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Cafe Izmir

Photo courtesy of Cafe Izmir

Middle Eastern restaurant from the Nazary family has been doing reliable Middle Eastern food since 1996. The restaurant makes your life simple with a choice of "meat" or "vegetable" and they take it from there. You get several small appetizers and an entree -- meat kebabs, or veggies and falafel. Brothers Beau and Ali, their mother Nazy, and their uncle Mehdi are from Iran, and the output of their kitchen is very good, with skillfully cooked meats, fresh vegetables, and sharp flavors. Their creamy, garlic-heavy hummus is beloved, as is their Russian chicken salad, like a combination of chicken salad and potato salad in one. But note: The restaurant sometimes closes early, arbitrarily, and they charge $5 for parking.